ABOUT US

Since 1997, Smile America Partners has been a leader in advancing public health through mobile and portable dentistry. We collaborate with dental professionals to bring oral healthcare services directly to underserved children, overcoming barriers to access in a way that is scalable and sustainable.

By partnering with dental practices, we handle the logistics, operations, and administrative functions, allowing dental professionals to focus on what they do best: providing high-quality preventive care and disease management. By operating in schools, we provide a solution to a critical social determinant of health—access to care—while minimizing disruptions to families’ daily lives.

As a steward of good oral health, Smile America Partners is committed to improving long-term health outcomes by addressing the root causes of oral health disparities in underserved communities. Our services help prevent disease and manage oral health conditions early, improving overall well-being for children and their families.

Our Leadership

STEVE HIGGINBOTHAM

Chief Executive Officer

Steve Higginbotham joined Smile America Partners as Chief Executive Officer and Board member in November 2015. He is responsible for all day-to-day company operations and has a passion for implementing delivery models focused on value through patient engagement and satisfaction. Higginbotham has devoted more than 20 years to senior-level operations positions within for-profit outpatient health care settings. Before working at Smile America Partners, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for Aeroscena, a clinical-research consumer products company based in the Cleveland Clinic Innovation Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to Aeroscena, Higginbotham served as Chief Executive Officer for Lifestyle Lift, after working as the company’s Chief Operating Officer for several years. Currently based in Farmington Hills, Michigan, Higginbotham holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from Auburn University.

CHANEL YONO

Chief Operating Officer

Chanel Yono, Chief Operating Officer, started her career at Smile America Partners in 2006 while still pursuing her degree in finance. She has 15 years of healthcare & mobile dentistry experience and is responsible for leading & overseeing all non-clinical operations, including business development, school unit logistics, project management, & recruiting. During her tenure, Yono has had a number of roles and responsibilities in a variety of different capacities from school relationships management, business development and operations.

CRAIG THOMAS

Chief Compliance Officer

Craig Thomas joined Smile America Partners as Chief Compliance Officer in August of 2022. He is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the Corporate Compliance Program at Smile America Partners. Thomas has over 20 years of healthcare operations leadership in hospital, medical group and academic medicine. Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from Missouri State University and an MBA from Keller. In addition, Thomas has achieved the fellowship credential through the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) and holds the following certifications in the field of healthcare compliance: Certified Healthcare Compliance (CHC), Certified Healthcare Privacy Compliance (CHPC) and Certified Professional Coder (CPC).

JUSTIN WEINGER

Chief Financial Officer

Justin Weinger, Chief Financial Officer, joined Smile America Partners in 2019. Weinger has more than 20 years of experience in financial planning and analysis, specializing in budgeting, profitability, and forecasting. Prior to joining Smile America Partners, he served as the senior manager of an automotive lighting company. Weinger earned both a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA from the University of Michigan, Dearborn.

Gary Bordey

Chief Digital and Information Officer

Gary Bordey, Chief Digital and Information Officer and HIPAA Security Officer, joined Smile America Partners in 2024. A strategic leader with real technical depth, he sets the organization’s technology direction while staying close to how it gets built. He drives digital transformation, data architecture, and enterprise information security, with current initiatives including agentic AI and intelligent automation, a unified data platform powering enterprise decision-making, and a program that safeguards sensitive health information across the enterprise. Gary brings more than 20 years of experience across healthcare technology, security and risk management, and governance, with senior technology and advisory roles at firms including EY, Accenture, and Capgemini. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA and an MBA from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.